A common motif in folk tales and faery lore is that gift which appears to be worthless, but later turns to gold. Often given in thanks for service or help, it looks like straw, leaves, or other rubbish at first, until the recipient later realizes they were given a treasure.
The flip side of this, of course, is leprechaun gold – gold given to a recipient that later turns into trash or disappears entirely.
These gifts mimic real life interactions. Often times, we’re given something – an idea, knowledge – that we think is worthless and treat it like trash, only to later realize how much worth it actually had. Other times, we prize something above all else that actually isn’t worth that much when it comes down to it. (Keeping up with the Joneses, anyone?)
What have you received that you thought was worthless, but turned out to be not? or vice versa?
